Procaine Inhibits Cyclic AMP-Induced Steroidogenesis in Isolated Bovine Adrenocortical Cells

Abstract

Effects of procaine on dibutyryl adenosine 3', 5'-cyclic monophosphate ((Bu)₂cAMP)-, Ca²⁺ or forskolin-induced steroidogenesis were examined in isolated bovine adrenocortical cells. Procaine (<1.0 mM) caused a marked suppression of (Bu)₂cAMP or forskolin-induced steroidogenesis in the absence of extracellular Ca²⁺, but did not affect on Ca²⁺-induced steroidogenesis in the cells. (Bu)₂cAMP decreased the cell associated ⁴⁵Ca²⁺. However, procaine (300 μM) inhibited this effect of (Bu)₂cAMP. These results suggest that procaine may abolish (Bu)₂cAMP-induced Ca²⁺ release from intracellular calcium store(s) and inhibits steroidogenesis.